Description
This Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs recipe features tender, juicy boneless chicken thighs pan-seared to golden perfection and glazed with a vibrant, sticky sauce made from honey, garlic, soy sauce, lemon juice, and zesty lemon pepper seasoning. Ready in just 25 minutes, this quick and flavorful dish combines savory and sweet with a citrusy punch, perfect for an easy weeknight dinner that feels special.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Salt, to taste
- Lemon pepper seasoning, to taste
- 5 slices of lemon
- Cooking oil, as needed
Sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- Juice of half a lemon
Instructions
- Mix the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, 3 teaspoons of lemon pepper seasoning, and the juice of half a lemon until fully combined. Set the sauce aside to let the flavors meld.
- Season and Brown the Chicken: Heat cooking oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season one side generously with salt and lemon pepper seasoning. Place the chicken seasoned side down in the hot skillet. Season the other side while the first side cooks. Sear the chicken for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and about 90% cooked through.
- Add Lemons and Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Arrange the lemon slices around and over the chicken in the skillet. Pour the prepared honey garlic lemon pepper sauce over the chicken. Increase heat back to medium and let the sauce come to a gentle boil. Simmer for about 5 minutes, spooning the sauce regularly over the chicken to baste and glaze it, until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce thickens.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the skillet from heat. Let the sauce cool slightly to thicken further. Spoon extra sauce over the chicken for a glossy finish. Remove lemon slices before plating. Serve hot and enjoy the sweet, tangy, and savory flavors.
Notes
- Patting the chicken dry before seasoning helps achieve a better sear.
- You can adjust the amount of lemon pepper seasoning to suit your taste preference.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, allow it to simmer a few extra minutes on low heat.
- Use fresh lemon slices rather than bottled lemon juice to enhance flavor and presentation.
- This recipe works well with chicken breasts but may require shorter searing time as they cook faster.
